I'll have to try it again tomorrow and compare the results. Any theories on why I'm getting the weird sub distance readings? I've done the sub crawl and the present position is the best of all possible options.

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I started out with nothing & I've still got most of it leftM60 VP160 QS8 EP350M22 VP100Algonquins

Joe, as to difference in the level readings, as I've commented before, there's no good reason to believe that the SPL reading taken with a separate meter(and with human error in reading it possibly a factor)is more accurate(or as accurate)than the result from the Audyssey microphone and built-in meter.

Where the sub difference is shown as being significantly shorter than the actual distance, this would seem to indicate that a nearby reflection is affecting the result. If you had the microphone positioned clear of obstructions for the first central reading, maybe you should try another first reading from about 6-7' away from the sub even if not in the listening position , to see if a similar short measurement results.

That's a good idea John. If I take just a first reading to verify the setup, will that give me the sub distance? Or will I have to go through the whole multi-position routine? My receiver needs a minimum of 3 readings before it will do the calculations.

I was trying to analyze this situation (the way we engineers tend to do), and it's probably not such a big deal as I'm making it out to be. After all, the distance setting is used to calculate a delay time in microseconds. It seems unlikely that a difference of a couple of thousandths of a seconds would even be noticeable, especially with a long low frequency wave.

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I started out with nothing & I've still got most of it leftM60 VP160 QS8 EP350M22 VP100Algonquins

Joe, the first Audyssey reading(usually from the main listening position)is the one that sets the speaker levels, crossovers and distances; the remaining readings are for the purpose of room equalization adjustments. So, if you decide to try the first reading at different positions to check what the sub distance shows, use the least number of readings that give you a result for sub distance.

While we'd all like to believe that Audyssey's automatic calibration and EQ is an audio panacea, it isn't, and it's error prone. I suggest you use your Radio Shack Sound Pressure Meter and adjust the levels and distances manually. You can tweak the levels of your surround speakers, subwoofer and center channel by ear if necessary later on.

Incidentally, it is pink noise (not white noise) that is used. Pink noise has equal energy per musical octave; white noise has equal energy per frequency, so it's heavily biased towards the upper midrange and high frequencies.